Stop-motion mechanism for knitting-machines.



I. W. GROTHEY. -s1or mono" MECHANISM-FOR KNITTING MACHINES. I APPLICATIdN FILED JULY 2. I909. 1,158,485 Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

I I; w. GROTHEY. STOP MOTIOWMECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APFLTCATVJN FILED ILILY 2. I909.

I SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

I. W. GROTHEY. STOP MOTION MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES. APPLICATION mu) JULY 2. 1909.

1, 1 585485. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3T I NVENTOR z wh m/a w. GROTHEY. STOP MOTION. MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

I APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. $909 I v 1,1 58,485. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4- WITNESSES Z [N VENTOR l. W. GROTHEY. -STOP MOTION MECHANISM ron KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION HtED JULY 2. 1909.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

7' SHEETS-SHEET 5.

l. w. GROTHEY. STOP MOTIONMECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPHCATION FILED JULY 2, W09.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

1 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Zlnwntoz I. W. GROTHEY.

STOP MOHON MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2. I909.

Patented Nov; 2, l9i5.

7 SHEETS-$HEET 7.

mm Sm hm mm M R gnoantoz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

1 .womgs,

T 9 all whom) it m ay concern Be it known that I, Ivsx W. GRo'rHEY, a

citizen of the United States. residing at :Pennsyl -strain upon the machine necessary to cut the threads to cause the stop motion mechanism to operate.

The purposeof my said invention is to provide a stop motion mechanism which will be principally mounted directly upon the top ring of the machine frame. thus bringing its principal weight to a point where its vibration will not cause undue and also provide such amechanism which will operate under any unusual strain upon the threads. or yarn, whether causing said yarn to break or not, and also a mechanism which will.op-

erate to stop the machine almost instantaneously. and it consists in various improvements in the construction and arrangement of parts whereby these purposes are which are made a partrious parts accomplished, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings hereof and on which similar reference. characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the top portion of a knitting machine looking at the same from the rear side. prov v1ded with my stop motion mechanism. Fig.

'2 a rear elevation of the parts constituting the stop motlon mechanism on an enlarged scale with a portion of the standard broken away, Fig.3 a top or plan view of the lower portion of the stop motion mechanism, Fig. l

a side elevation of the upper part of said stop motion mechanism. Fig. 5 a side elevation of the lower part-of said stop motion mechanism, Fig. 6 a vertical section through the same on the dotted line 6-6 in Fig. 3. Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and.13 detail views of vaof the mechanism on anenlarged r Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 2, 1909.

. various parts of the mechamsm IVAN W GROTHEY, OF YORK; PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL, MACHINE 0F YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, AQORPORATIONI OF PENNSYLVANIA.

sToP-Mo'rIoN 'MEo'iia'NIsM iron KNITIINGTMACHINES.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Serial No. 505,740.

scale, and Figs. ll, 15, 16. 17 and 18 views similar to Figs. 1, 2, 3, I) and 6, but showing a modification in the construction.

In said drawings the portions markedA represent the frame of the machine and B the casing inclosing the trip devices of the stop motion mechanism.

The knitting machine illustrated is a cir-' cularluiitting machine of well known construction. designed principally for knitting stockings. etc, and requires no detail description. being shown merely to illustrate the use of my said invention, which is equally adapted for use on knitting machinesof any other type for which it may be found suitable.

The frame A is preferably a casting comprising an upper and lower ring connected by side pieces and adapted to support the as shown. The casing B is ahollow casting formed of a base plate 13 ing ears 1) formed adapted to fit upon the rear edge of the top ring of the frame A, to which it is secured by scre w-bolts 1). Its front side is formed open an rovided with a cover plate B secured thereon by screws o Across the front end of its top side is formed a section in piece therewith on the top of which is formed a boss B containing a socket b to receive the lower end of post on the upper end of which are mounted other parts of the mechanism.

A rock-shaft 20 is journaled in bearings formed in ears I) which are formed on the top face of the base-plate B near each end thereof. Said rock-shaft 20 also extends through the casing B near its front end. A. strong coiled spring 21 is mounted on said rock-shaft near one end, one end of said spring being secured to said rock-shaft on a pin and its opposite end 23 hooked over the rear edge of plate B. rigidly secured on shaft 20 inside of casing B ,by means of a pin 2i which extends through a perforation in said arm and said rock-shaft. A lever 26, carrying a spring catch '27, is mounted on a horizontal pivot 28 which extends from one side to the other having downwardly projecton the arc of a circle An arm 25 is the bottom of said casing and on the rear face of the upper end of end bearing on the other end bearingsaid lever, tends to throw said lev'er forwardonits pivot toward rockshaft 20.. The catch 27 is mounted and adapted to slide in a perforation through said lever, being carried on the lower end of a leaf-spring -30 the upper end of which is secured to the backside of said lever near its upper end by-rivets or screws 8. The outer end of arm is formed with a projecting finger 31 with acurved lower corner said finger being adapted to engage under said catch 27 when in the position shown by whole lines in Fig.6. Said lever 26 has a forwardly projecting arm 32 on its upper j '3 end of the form best shown in Fig. 7, with a 35, of the form best shown in Flg. 8, is

projecting ear 33 on one side.v A trip lever mounted on a horizontal pivot 36, being formed of two horizontal members connected at their rear ends, one of said members being formed with a notch 37- inits topedge -.with which the ear 33 of the arm 32 on the upper end of lever 26 is adapted'to engage.

i 33 in engagement.

. A: spring 38 is bent around said pivot 36 and one endextends out horizontally and engages with a perforation, or notch,-in the side of casing B, while its other end engages under a pro ection, as pin 39 in the side of said lever, said spring thus serving to normally hold the rear end of said lever u'p ward and maintaining the notch 37 and car A plate or lever 40 is mounted on a horizontal pivot 41 extending between suitable ears on the top of easing B and is provided with an arm 42 which extends down through an aperture in the top of said casing and is adapted to strike upon the rear end of said lever'35.

Horizontal tubes or hollow arms 45 and of each of the tubes 45 and 46 is mounted an upwardly extending rigid arm 50 near the .top end, of which are provided horizontally projecting fingers 51 and 52. The outer end of each rod 47 extends beyond the outerend" of its inclosing tube 'and an arm 53 preferably rormedof wire, is mounted therein and so connected to said rod as to swing therewith, On the upper end of each of said arms 53 are formed horizontal fingers 54 nd 55 one of which is adaptedto be positioned between the fingefs51 and 52 of the arms 50 and the other. of which is adjacent to the lower one of said fingers Said arms-53 are 6 supported in a vertical position by the threads to a suitable 1,15e,ee5

passes between their fingers and the fingers of arms 50. See Fig. 2. WVhen either one of said arms 53 falls down into a horizontal position from any cause, such as the break "ing or cutting of a thread, the bent inner end 48 will contact with the rear endof lever 35 and throw it downwardly on its pivot, re-

leasing the notch37 from the ear 33 of lever 26. I

A standard 66 is mounted in socket b of the boss B onzthe front end of the top of threads from the spools of yarn, which casing B and extends upwardly a suitable I distance and carries an arm 61 on its upper end the lower end or base of said arm 61 being formed with a vertical socket adapted to .fit over the top end of said standard. Said arm 61 extends a suflicient distance to one side of the standard to carry the at its upper end in the backside of the base of arm 61- and extends down through a distance'piece 63, mounted in an intermediate position on standard 60, into a socket in a boss B on the'rear edge of the base plate B of the casing B, where it is secured by a set screw 6 thus bracing and supporting osition over'the knit-. ting mechanism. A race rod 62 is secured said standard. Yarn or thread supporting arms 65 and 66 are mounted at their lower ends in normally vertical sockets 67 and 68,

-which sockets are provided on the upper ends of levers 69 and 70, which are mounted on horizontal pivots 71 and72, respectively,

on opposite sides of the base of arm 61. An angle lever 73 is mounted on a pivot' 74 on said base its lower end carrying a pin 75.

extending through said arm and to each side thereof a sufficient distance to rest upon the rear edges of the levers 69 and 70, so that the operation of either lever 69 or will throw the lower end of said lever 73 out -wardlya1'1d its horizontal part upwardly.

The outer end of the horizontal part of said lever 73 is connected by a rod 76 with the forward end of plate 40 pivoted on the top of easing B. On each side of the outer end of arm 61 are mounted rocking disks 80 and 81 respectively, each of which is formed with a tapered edge at its upper forward side, on each side of which are mounted forwardly extending fingers82 and 83, finger 82 being on the outside of the disks and norhorizontal direction. Connecting rods 84: and 85 connect the lower side of each of said disks with the lower-ends of the levers 69 and 70, respectively, so that any swing of said levers also-serves to oscillate said disks. Sa d arms 69 and-70, as before described,

'mally extending at a slight angle above a early the yarn-supporting arms 65 and 66 .swiveled in sockets on their upper ends and just above said sockets each of said yarn supporting arms is formed with a horizontal arm 65 and 66 respectively,-,-which ,arms

25 id-3 springs the base of said arm 61.

andiBT, respectively, are mounted on the lower ends of said arms 65 and 66 below the .sockets,one end of each of said, springs being connected with the lower end of its arm and the other connected withthe socket ,in which it swivels, so as to normally hold said arms in the position shown in Figs. 2

and 4 with the arms 65 and, 66 resting in a transverse position against the rear face of the base of arm 61. The tops of the levers 69 and 70, respectively, are connected by springs 88 and 89 to the upper ends of levers .90 and 91, which are mounted on a pivot, 92 in the brace rod 62. Said levers 90 and 91 are each angle levers and their lower 'ends are pivoted to adjusting screws 93 and 94 which project through suitable perfora- 20,.tlOI1S in ,the ends of a cross arm 95 on brace 62 -and are provided with thumb nuts 96 and' 97,, respectively, by whichlthey may be adjustedand the tension of the springs 88 and-:S9-regulated It will. thus be seen that thread supporting arms 65 and 66 in a ver- 'tical position and with their arms 65 and 66% in a position parallel with the rear face of the base of the arml61. got: The main drivingshaft of the machine 100..is geared to the various mechanisms theausual or any approved; manner. It is providedwi-th ahand-wh'eel 101 by which it. maybe turned by hand to bring the meclr anismuzto any desired position: It is provided'with an. idler pulley 102 and a driv ing pulley, 1Q3ulongsidesaid idler pulley by which it maybe driven from any suitable or convenient,power. It is also provided with i10 a brake 'pulley or wheel 104 which is sur rounded by band-brake 105 the two ends of which are connected toadjacent I pins pro ecting from the side of a lever 106, which-is pivoted on a pivot 107 to a suit- 4; able bracket 10 8 bolted to the top of the machine frame. The pins to which the ends of'said band-brake 105 are pivotally con nected project from the lever on opposite I sides of its pivot, asshown clearly in Fig. 1, so that as said lever is rocked on its pivot the ends of saidband-brake are moved to contractor expand the band and impinge or release the brakewheel 1041, as will be readily'understood.

- Abelt shifter is provided, consisting of parallel prongs 10 adapted to straddle the belt, not shown, mounted on an arm 11 car- I ried on bracket 12 which in turn is mounted on a slide rod 13 mounted to slide in a suit- 80, able bearing in a boss 5 formed on the side .11 piece of the-frame A of the machine.v A

coiled spring 9 is mounted between said bracket 12 and the outer end of boss 5 which normally holds the belt shifter so as '66 to carry the belt on/the idler pulley 102.

88-and 89 normally hold the In the inner end of said sliding rod 13 is formed a notch 11. with which a latch 6 on pivoted lever 15 is adapted to engage. Said lever 15 is pivoted at l and a coiled spring T serves to hold it in a position to engage the latch 6 with said notch n. A rod 16 is pivoted to the outer end of a crank arm 19 on rock shaft 20 and its lower end extends through a perforation in the outer end of lever 15 and adjustable collar 11 being mounted on said rod above said lever to regulate the point of contact, as shown. Another crank arm 18 is mounted on the outer end of said rock shaft '20 and connected by a connecting rodli. with lever 106 for oper-' ating the band-brake 105. Another lever 8 is pivoted on abracket 3 onthe side of the frame with its upper end engaging with the transverse pin or projection 22 on the side, of sliding rod 13, by which said sliding rod may be thrown back to set the mechanism in operative position after the belt has been shifted and the brake set to stop the mechanism.

In operation, the machine is threaded as" shown in Fig. 1, the spool holder 110, of a common or any approv'ed form, being mounted on the lower part of the frame of the machine and carrying the spools of yarn 111 and 112. The thread from spool 112 runs between the fingers 51 and 52 of the stationary arm 50 and the fingers 51 and 55 of the rocking arm 53, on the righthand side, as indicated in said figure, then passes over a hook-shaped support on the top of the yarn support 66, from thence over the periphery of the disk 80 and between the lingers 82 and 83 on the sides thereof, on the outer end of arm 61, and thence to the needles in the knitting head. The thread from spool 111 passes in a similar manner from said spool through the fingers and supports on the left-hand side of the machine to the knitting head. When the machine is in operation the mechanism inclosed by the casing B is set as shown in Fig. 6, in which position the rock-shaft 20 and the crank arms 18 and 19 thereon are in the position shown in F ig. 1, the crank arm 18 being in position to hold the band-brake 105 loosely upon the periphery of the brake wheel .104: and the arm 19 being in position to permit the spring 7 to hold the lever 15 with the latch 6 ready for engagement with the notchn in the underside of the slid ing rod 13 and to hold the shifting-fork in position with the belt upon the driving wheel 103. In Fig. 1, however, the shifting-fork is adjacent to .idler .pull'ey,102 as all parts ready to operate as soon as the belt is shifted onto the driving pulley. The ma;

chine being thrown into operation, with the parts so arranged and adjusted, and a break occurring in either one of the threads the finger 53 which was supported by the thread broken will immediately fall down into a horizontal position so that its bent end or arm -18, on the inner end of the rod 47, will contact with the inner end of lever 35 throwing said lever downwardly and releasing its notch 37 from engagement with ear 33 of thelever 26. Immediately upon this engagement being broken the spring 21, which, when the parts are turned to the set postion shown in Fig. 6, is under powerful tension, acts through the contact between the part 31 of the arm 25 and the catch 27- to throw lever 26 backward and cause shaft 20 to make substantially a uarter turn bringing lei r 25 to the position shown by dotted. lines in Fig. 6. This motion of shaft 20 will throw crank arm 19 downwardly, bringing collar 14 into contact with the outer end of lever 15, forcing said lever downwardly, and disengaging the latch 6 from the notch n in sliding rod 13, when the spring 9 will immediately cause said rod carrying the shifting-fork 10, to

slide outwardly and shift the belt from the drivingpulley 103 to the idler pulley 102. Atthe same time the crank-arm 18 throws lever 106 backward upon its pivot closing the band-brake 105 tightly upon the periphery of the brake-wheel 104C and thus bringing driving shaft 100 to a sudden stop. Said stop motion mechanism will also be set off by any lcnot, or imperfection, in either of the threads which passing through or over any of the thread-supporting parts causes an undue tension thereon, which will tilt forward the top end f of lever 69* r 70 carrying the yarn support or 66, over which the thread .is runningfthe yarn support being swiveled on its vertical pivot during said forwardmovement by means of contact of its horizontal portion with the rear face of the base of arm 61. The upper end of said support is thus turned and tilted so that the hook thereon will point at an angle downwardly and permit the thread to slip off. The connecting rod 81 or 85, according to which thread is in trouble, turns the disk 80 or 81 at the same time, which turns the outer prong 82 on said disk to an angle downwardly so that the thread will slide over thetapered corner of the disk and said prong and fall off its support without breaking. At the same time the lower end of lever 69. or '70, will contact with the cross. bar 75 of lever 73 throwing the horizontal arm of said lever in an upward direction and through the connecting rod 76 tilt the lever plate 40, which, through its arm 42, will I throw the outer end of lever 35 downwardly,

-=-causing the same operation of the stop motjtif tion mechanism as when set off by the fall- When the operator has overcome the (littlecultv which caused the automatic stopping of the machine, the lever 106 is pulled forward, which. through its connection with shaft 20, rocks said shaft to throw lever 25 back into engagement under the spring catch 2? carried by the lever 26, the rounded corner of part 31 pressing upon the tapered top side of said catch serving to force it back by deflecting its supporting spring 30 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6. Said levers 26 andare held in normal position and relation at all times, except when forced out of s iCh normal position, by means of the springs 29 and 38, respectively. After the mechanism in the casing B has thus been set the operator, through lever 8, slides the rod 13 carrying the belt shifting-fork 10.

inwardly until the latch 6 on lever 15 engages with the notch n in' the underside of said rod and locks said rod in this position, which brings the belt onto the driving pulley 103 and starts the machine into operation. As often as the yarn may break or any imperfection in the yarn, or other trouble, causes any abnormal tension, either in the feeding or the knitting, the stop motion mechanism will be automatically set off as above described and the machine brought to an almost immediate stop before any harm that the operation of shaft 20. under the power of the powerful spring 21 is substantially instantaneous and brings the mechanism to a stop before the knitting mechanism can use up any considerable length of the thread after the interruption occurs.

"In Figs. 14, 15, 16, and 17 I have illustrated a modincation where using heavy yarn. In this arrangement the modification consists chiefly in the substitution of pivoted trip-levers 200 and 201, either of which is adapted to contact with and operate a plunger 202 to throw the lever and set off the stop motion mechanism, for the devices carried on the top of standard 60 and their connection with the plate 40, as shown in the principal views. Said levers 200'and 201 are pivoted between appropriate ears on the top of easing B and their rear ends are arranged to contact with the head of plunger 202 when their forward ends are lifted up on--their pivots. Each lever is formed with a notch in its top directly above its pivot in whichthe V-shaped lower end=of a sliding plunger 203 is adapted to engage. Said detent is mounted in a vertl'caltube 204 in the top of which is mounted-a thumb-screw 205 and between the end of "said thumb-screw and the top of said plunger is mounted a coiled spring 206, so

. thatby the adjustment of said thumb-screw thetension of thespring may be regulated to *hold said detent into engagement with said notch with greater or less force as may be required to regulate the force necessary gto operatelever 200 or 201.

An upright 210 {is mpgujitd on the top of casing B and has g'tra'nsfferse yarn supporting arms 211 and f1 212"lgitndingeach way therefrom and an outwardly extending yarn supporting arm 213 curved over from the top thereof, suitable hooks being formed on the outer ends ofeach of said arms to receive and carry ting mechanism.

the threads. -In this construction the thread or yarn passes through between the horizontal fingers of the arms 50 and 53 of thelower part of the mechanism, as in the principal construction, then passes upwardly to the yarn supports 211 and 212, from thence down under thread receiving hooks formed on forward ends of levers 201 and 202, then up and over the yarn supports on the end of arm 213 from thence down to the knit- 'As in the principal construction anybreak in the yarn will cause one or theother of the arms 53-to fall and set off the stop motion mechanism, which. operates in identically the same manner as in the principal construction. Any undue 'tenslon upon either of the threads suflicient to exertthe force required to lift the forward ends of levers 200 or 201 will raise said ends upwardly, causing their rear ends to press downwardly upon the top of plunger 202, which will force the rear end of lever 35 downwardly and set off the mechanism with the same results as before described. It

' will be understood, of course, that these and other modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit thought it advisable to illustrate this second of my said invention. I have means of setting oil the stop motion mechanism, by the tension of the threads, without breaking or cutting the thread, as I regard it as substantially the equivalent of the mechamsms'hown in the principal views .so 'far as the principal ofoperation is concerned. The construction shown in the principal views, however, permits the thread to be 'fed from the spool to the knitting mechanism without passing over somany parts and thus is more suitable for delicate work where'fine threads of a delistrength of the frame, while at the same time bringing the parts into more convenient position for attention by the operator. Also one which will beset off and operated entirely automatically either by the breaking of the yarn or by any abnormal strain upon the yarn caused by any imperfection in the thread, or any other cause,

the two causes operating the mechanism env "tirely' independent one of the other, and the latter cause not necessitating a break in the thread. Either form of device also is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, light in weight, and positive and almost instantaneous in operation.

"Having thus fully described my said in-' vention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I

1. A stop motion mechanism for knitting machines comprising a sliding belt-shifter for shifting the driving belt of the machine,

brake mechanism for stopping the driving shaft, a rock-shaft mounted under tension and directly connected topositively release the means for actuating the belt-shifter and also connected to the brake mechanism to too directly and positively operate the 'same,'

means for applying tension to said rockshaft and-actuating it, said means for actusaid rock-shaft for holding it in set position as when the machine is 111. bperation,'. and means for releasing said holding devices controlled by the threads in their passage ating the belt-shifter, devices connected with from the spools to the knittingemechanism,

substantially as set forth.

2. A stop motion mechanismffor knitting machines comprising a casing mounted directly on the base of the knitting head, a springmounted through said casing, locking devices within said casing for holding said rock-shaft against the tensionof its spring, crank-arms 'on said rock-shaft operatively connected respectively with the brake and the power controlling devices for actuating them, tripping devices for setting off the holding mechanism and meansfor actuating said tripping devices controlled by the tension .of' the threads, substantially as set forth,

3. A stop motion mechanism for knitting: machines comprising a casing mounted on the base of the knitting head, a rock-shaft mounted under tension therem, means for rock shaft extending applying tension to said rockshaft and actuating it, means for holding said rockshaft against its tension while the machine is in operation, crank-arms on said rockshaft operatively connected to the brake and power controlling mechanism respectively, a rod mounted to rock in a suitable bearing carried by said casing with its inner end formed to contact with the holding means and set it off when in one position and provided with an arm on its outer end through which the position of its inner end is controlled by the thread, substantially as set forth.

4;. A stop motion mechanism for knitting machines comprising a casing on the base of the knitting head, a horizontal rock-shaft journaled in and mounted to extend through saidcasing, means connected with said rockshaft for holding it under a tension in one direction, means mounted in said casing for holding said rock-shaft against said. tension,

'operative' connections running from said mechanism,

rock -.shaft to the brake mechanism and power controlling mechanism, respectively,

and means for releasing the devices for holding said rock-shaft controlled by the thread in its passage from the spools to the knitting mechanism, substantially as set for'th.

5. A stop motion mechanism for knitting machines comprising power controlling brake mechanism, a casing mounted on the machine frame, a rock-shaft extending through said casing, means for applying tensionto said rock-shaft and actuating it, connections running from said rock-shaft to the power controlling mechanism and the brake mechanism, respectively, thread guiding fingers carriedon the outer end of horizontal arms extending laterally from said casing, rods extending through said arms to within said casing and provided with'tripping fingers on their inner endsand with arms on their outer ends having fingers adapted to extend adjacent to .the fingers of said other arms and be held in position by the threads passlng between sald several fingers, whereby when the threads break said arms will fall and rock said rods to bring their inner ends into contact with the trip mechanism for setting it off, substantiallyfas set forth.

6. A stop motion mechanism for knitting machines comprising power controlling mechanism, brake mechanism, a rock-shaft, means for applyingtension to said rockshaft and actuating it, connections running from said rock-shaft to the power controlling mechanism and the brake mechanism, respectively, a radially extending arm fixed on said rockshaft within said casing a d formed with an engaging shoulder on its outer end, a pivoted catch. adaptedto on shaft under tension, means for normally I holding said parts in engaged position, horizontal arms extending each way from said casing carrying vertical stationary arms withhorizontally projecting fingers on their upper ends, rods mounted in said arms adapted to rock having arms on their outer ends adjacent to said stationary arms and. formed with fingers adapted to come into position adjacent to the fingers of said stationary arms when said arms are parallel, the inner ends of said rods being bent to contact with the holding devices to trip the same when brought into contact therewith, said holding devices and means above arms for supporting the threads in their passage from the spool to the knitting rock-shaft held under tension therein and' connected with the brake mechanism and'the power controlling mechanism, means for applying tension to said rock-shaft and actuating it, said rockshaft being provided with a radial arm within said casing having a shoulder in its outer end for engagement withholding devices, a pivoted catch for engagement with said shoulder, a pivoted lever for holding said pivoted catch in engage ment, means for actuating said lever and releasing said holding devices comprising a swinglng arm mounted on a rod, said arm being arranged. to be held in position to hold its inner end out of contact with said lever by the yarn when in operative position and to fall so that its inner end will contact with said lever to set, off said holding mechanism when the yarn separates, substantially as set forth. v f

8. A stop motion mechanism for knitting machines comprising power controlling and brake mechanisms, a casing, a rock-shaft provided with cranks connected to the power controlling and brake mechanisms, holding devices for holding said rock-shaft under tension, means for applying tension to said rock-shaft and actuating it, means for setting oif said holding devices comprising swinging thread supports mounted above said casing and arranged to be operated by any abnormal tension on the thread, a trip lever mounted on said casing for operating" the holding devices therein, another lever. pivoted adjacent to said thread supports and adapted to be operated thereby, and a gage with said outer endto hold said rock connection running between said two levers,

whereby the swinging of said thread supports will release said holding devices and set off the stop motion mechanism, substanagainst its tension, a trip lever for releasing said holding devices, thread supports mounted on pivoted" levers above said casing, and a connection between said pivoted levers and said trip lever whereby the swinging of said thread supports under any abnormal tension of the threads will operate said trip lever to set' off the stop motion mechanism,

substantially as set forth.

10., A. stop motion mechanism comprising a casing on the frame of the machine, a rocking crank-shaft mounted therein under tension and operatively connected by separate direct connection with the power controlling and brake mechanism, means for applying tension to said rock-shaft and actuating it, holding devices in said casing for securing said shaft under tension, a trip lever for releasing said' holding devices, thread supports mounted above said casing, and a connection from said pivoted levers to said trip lever, substantially as set forth.

1-1, A stop motion mechanism for knitting machines comprising a casing, a rocking crank-shaft mounted therein under tension, means for applying tension to said rockshaft and actuating it, holding devices in said casing for securing said rock-shaft against its tension, operative connections between the cranks of said rock-shaft and the power'controlling and brake mechanisms, a trip lever for releasing said holding dev ces, pivoted levers above said holding devices, thread support smounted on pivots on sa d pivoted levers and connected with said trip lever, said thread supports being mounted to swivel in said levers, other thread supports on the outer end of a supporting arm to' one side of said pivoted support, and

means for releasing the threads from said supports when said levers tilt'under strain from the thread thereon andalso set off the stop motion, substantially as set forth.

12. .A stop motion mechanism for knitting machines comprising a casing mounted on the machine frame, power controlling and nected with the power controlling and brake for applying tension to brake mechanism, a rocking crank shaft mounted in said casing and operatively conmechanisms, means saldrock-shaft'and actuating it, holding devicesfor securing mounted to swivel in pivoted levers said shaft in a fill ed position underptension means for. releasing said holding devices comprising pivotedthread supports mounted on a part of the frame pivots on the outer end of a laterally extending part of the frame and connectedby a connecting rod to the lower ends ofsaid levers, said disks being provided with pro are tilted under any undue tension 'of'tlie thread they will also swivel and at the same time rock said disks and bring the supporting prongs into a position to permitthe thread to slide ofi' said supports,'and at the same time set oil the stop motion mecha nism, substantially'as set forth.

13. In a stop motion mechanism for knit ting machines, the combination of a rocking crank-shaft mounted under tension, means for applying tension to said rock-shaft and actuating it, a plurality of crank-arms on said crank-shaft, a separate connection op eratively connected with the belt shifting and brake setting mechanisms respectively, devices for holding said shaft against its tension, releasing means, and means for actuating said releasing means comprising thread supports mounted to both tilt and swivel, whereby any undue tension upon said threads will set off the stop motion mechanism and also permit the threads to slip off of said supports without breaking,

substantially as set forth.

1 L. In a stop motion mechanism for knitcrank-shaft mounted under tension and operatively connected with the power controlling means and the brake mechanism, means for applying tension to said rock-shaft and actuating it, devices for holding said shaft against its tension with the parts in position to permit the machine to operate, tripping devices for releasing said holding devices, thread supports mounted on pivoted levers adapted to swing under undue tension of the .thread, a lever pivoted adjacent to said pivoted levers and connected with the means for setting off said holding devices, and means for regulating the tension under which said pivoted levers will operate, sub stantially as set forth.

15. In a stop motion mechanism for knit- 7 )ecting prongs between which the threads may pass, whereby as said thread supports ting machines, thecombination of a rocking devices, said means comprising a pivoted actuating lever connected by a connecting rod with an angle lever above said casing, pivti' 3 otedlevers adjacent to said angle lever an adapted to contact therewith carrying 'the brake mechanism, for actuating. them,, means for applyingtension to said- "rock-4;,

securing said rock-shaft against its-tension While the parts are jni position for :the' ma? chine to operateymeans for releasing sai'd'g holding device",- swivledr and v pivoted thread? thread supports, said. '4 thread supports mounted to swivel in sockets-in said. pivoted levers, and springs for normally qholding said thread supports inv operative'po'sition, substantially as set forth.

16.- In a stop motion mechanism for knit- 'ting machines, the combination of'a rocking crank-shaft mounted under tension and c0nnected with power controlling means and' shaft and actuating ityholding ,devi ces lfo'r supports, a connection between said thread supports and ,said means for releasing thee holding dev1ces', -Jan(l means for regulating. the tension undle'rwhieh said thread sup-- ports are held in their normal positions, substantially as set forth:

'12: in a stop motion mechanism for knitting machines, the combination, of a rock% ing crankshaft mounted under tension and operatively connected directly byseparate; connections with the power controiling means and the brake mechanism for actuat ing the same, means for applyingtension to said rock-shaft and actuating it, devices .for

holding saidshaft against its tension; means for releasing" sald; holding devices, and means for operating saidreleaslng'cmeans and rock to throw oii the thread and at the same time actuate said. releasing meahsunthread,

der any undue tension of the stantially as set forth. i

1.8. A stop motion mechanism for machines comprising an automatically op-' erating beltfishfifter for the driving belt,- an

locked, at single rock. shaft mounted under tensmn'a d; rectly' connected by separate connections. itfo operate said several mechaautomatically; operating "brake mechanism \for "driving shaft, means for hold+ ;ing--:sai li respective operating mechanisms ,nisms means for holding said rock shaft againstqits tension, means, for releasing said *tilt or fallgof the yarn support-and said yarn'supports, substantially as set, forth. U

fmy handfalid seal-at York, Pennsylvania, this twelfth ,glayflof} June, A. D." nineteen hundred an lnine.

-I TAN Wz GROTHEY. [11.8.]

Vv itnessesi 'B; R. PAXTON, v DONALD H. Year.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set holding meansxarranged to beset off by the 

